FAU 4 BC 3

FROM PRESS RELEASE BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Boston College baseball team could only manage four hits off four different Florida Atlantic pitchers, falling 4-3, Tuesday night at FAU Stadium. The Eagles are now 5-4 on the season, while FAU improves to 6-3.

FAU threatened in the both first and second innings against BC starter Ted Ratliff (0-1). The senior right-hander was able to work around a hit and four walks in the first two frames to keep the Owls scoreless.

In the third, the Owls threatened again. Jeremy Griffiths started the inning with a base hit to center field. Ratliff would then strikeout William Block and walk Mike McKenna. With runners on the corners and one out, Ratliff enticed a double play ground out by Travis Ozga to end the inning.

The Owls broke a scoreless tie in the fourth on a Ratliff wild pitch and consecutive sac flies by Nick Arata and Daniel Cook to take the lead, 3-0.

BC was held hitless by FAU starter Adam Morrison and reliever Mike Gipson (1-0) until the seventh, when Michael Belfiore hit a one-out single to right field.

FAU extended the lead to 4-0 in the sixth on a wild pitch.

The Eagles made their first threat of the game in the eighth inning. Matt Hamlet started the rally with a base hit between first and second base. Harry Darling followed with a walk. BC loaded the bases when Sam Shaughnessy hit a single to center field. Marc Perdios knocked in Hamlet on a fielder’s choice. On the attempted double play of Perdios, FAU shortstop Nick Arata threw wide of first base, allowing Darling to come around and score.

After Barry Butera flew out, Tony Sanchez hit a two-out RBI single to bring around Perdios, cutting the lead to 4-3. The Owls brought in reliever Glen Troyanowski to retire Eric Campbell on a ground out to end the threat in the eighth.

Troyanowski struck out the side in the ninth to secure the victory for the Owls.

Kyle Prohovich, Kurt Hayer and Chris Kowalski combine to toss 4.2 innings in relief of Ratliff. The trio did not allow a hit and surrended one unearned run, while striking out three.

BC returns to Boca Raton, Fla. to play FAU for a second game tomorrow at 6:30 p.m.

Brian Foley is the founder and Lead Editor of College Baseball Daily since its inception in 2005.He has covered two CWS, multiple NCAA Baseball Regionals, and other special events across the country. In addition to his duties with College Baseball Daily, he has covered games for Inside Lacrosse and been featured in USA Today, Wall Street Journal among other publications.He can be contacted by email at editor at collegebaseballdaily.com and followed on Twitter @BFoley82.